For millions of people, mobile phones have become essential for everyday life. But now it seems our
supposedly private conversations and messages are not as secure as we thought. The latest alleged high profile security breach, reportedly involving the phones of royal officials and other public figures, centres on the illegal accessing of voicemail messages.
Hacking into voicemails on a mobile phone is a relatively straightforward process if the user has not changed their "pin code", according to industry experts.
Hackers can obtain the number which allows for remote access to the voicemail system and, by inputting the default code or other commonly used numbers, can gain access to messages left by other callers.
It is a "weakness in the system" allowing snoopers access to information much more easily than hacking into direct communications such as live mobile conversations, according to industry body the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum (Tuff). How to protect your voicemail from hackers | the Daily Mail